HBG sets up facilities arm

Contractor HBG has set up a facilities management arm to focus on the growth of corporate PFI work in the UK.

The £3.2bn turnover Dutch group claims it can now offer all the services of a major PFI consortium with the launch of HBG Facilities Management.

HBG's move into corporate PFI, which involves taking over a firm's property portfolio, follows Carillion's declaration of interest in the market in September.

Services offered by the new arm include property services, facilities management, IT management and administrative support.

Managing director Richard Moule said there was real cost savings to be gained from integrating management into the design and build process.

He said: "By having a single company responsible for every element of the property over its lifetime, issues of management and occupation can be considered before the architect has drawn a single line."

HBG is currently working on PFI projects including the West Lothian College, Peacehaven School and Derby Police Headquarters.

UK chief executive Adrian Franklin said in September he aimed to increase the contractor's PFI workload by 20% next year.